OK, Bib, I am learning, the following is your dialog from the suggested post:
“Think of the pubic area from a strictly engineering point of view. The tunica, which surrounds the blood cavities, is very tough (hard rubber) and long. It is anchored in the body, close to the prostate. There are different amounts of penis, and therefore tunica held within the body. This is held in by the ligaments attached to the pubic bone (fan shaped) and the tunica on the shaft. Almost like a boom on a crane when erect. The ligaments are like rope bundles. Some of the strands are long, and some shorter. The shorter the fiber, the more stress that fiber takes in an erection. The penis is anchored firmly within the body.
Also in the system are blood vessels (plumbing) and nerves (communications). The goal is to pull out as much tunica as is possible (easy, fast gains) by stretching the ligaments, and also to stretch the tunica and associated structures (harder gains). These other structures, CC, CS, blood vessels, nerves, skin, etc, all are easily stretched. The limiting factors are the tunica and ligaments.
Another goal is to stretch the tough infrastructure without damaging the plumbing or communications. The blood vessels are tough (tear resistant), but easily stretched. The only problem associated with them is the fact that they become narrower as they are stretched, thereby limiting blood flow. The nerves are easily stretched and also easily broken, but also easily regenerated over time. One good reason for taking things slow is to give the nerves time to regenerate. As long as there are small gaps or tears in the nerves, they have no problem rebuilding. When the gaps become large is when one experiences a loss of feeling.
The tunica is fairly consistent, tough, and slow to stretch. It takes time and perseverance.
The ligs vary in toughness. You may have several short, but thin fibers, which are easily broken and/or stretched. This will give fast gains. Or you may have short thick fibers, which are hard to break or stretch immediately (tough gainers). Once these short thick fibers are broken, gains may be easy. Then later, the longer fibers come into play. Or I should say, as the shorter ones are broken or stretched, the longer ones increasingly come into play. As time goes on, more and more fibers are involved at the same time during the stretch. Short ones break or stretch, and the next shortest take more of the load. This is why gains eventually slow down for everyone.
This is also one reason why it takes increasingly higher weights to achieve gains. It is also why some people talk about the ligs becoming tougher. They are somewhat tougher, because they become thicker as they heal. But more than that, each fiber becomes more equal with the other fibers as time goes on, they increasingly resist the stretch in harmony. Then, one must become more refined in his attack. Vary the angles even more. For example: After hanging for several months, a good stress is to hang under each leg, over the side edge of the chair, while seated in an almost BTC position. This greatly stresses each SIDE of the ligament bundle, dividing and conquering. Then, a normal BTC hang will stress the middle of the bundle. The sides are already longer from the side stretch. So the middle then has to take the load. This is just one example.
Each micron of gain is dependent upon breaking the next limiting factor. That next limiting factor may be large or small. This is an argument for going up in weight quickly. Break or stretch each limiting factor before the preceding limiting factor has time to heal and become tougher. But it is a balancing act between gaining and being safe. The relative soreness or fatigue in an area is an indication of what has transpired. If you are very sore in an area, you have pushed it far enough. You need to work on another area for a while (a day or two).
Changes in the limiting factors are also a reason you have to go down in weight from time to time. Your current limiting factor may be one or more tough thick ligament fibers for example. Then, as your maximum weight goes up, one day these fibers fail. When they do, you achieve gains, but also incur the next limiting factors. These next limiting factors may be thinner, or fewer, and require somewhat less weight to break or stretch. That is why from time to time, you just cannot hang the maximum, at a certain angle, that you could previously.
Look at a broad example: You have the tunica hanging straight down. Then on top of that, the ligs are attached, also hanging straight down. Now apply a stress to them. Which structures take the stress first? It depends on their individual lengths. For most (if not all), it is the bundle of ligaments. The shorter ones first. So when hanging straight down or BTC, the tunica may not be affected at all, taking none of the stress. Only the ligaments. Now, as the angle rises, say to hanging straight out, the ligaments take less and less stress and the tunica takes more and more stress. So then when hanging straight up (over the shoulder), most (if not all) will have all the stress on the tunica and the anchor points within the body, and none on the ligaments. Further, hanging over the legs will stress the sides of the tunica, and the anchor points within the body on each side.
The tunica and each individual fiber of the ligaments all have different load capacities. All are subject to a maximum load factor, above which they fail. When they fail, they either stretch or are broken. In either case, the body subsequently repairs them. This repair time varies between fibers and individuals. The key is to control the damage done to the structures and allow time for repair. In order to do this most efficiently, the best way would be one at a time. This is not possible, but the varying angles of stress will allow the most efficient method of stressing individual fibers and therefore achieving the goals.
So now, we know the problems, and what needs to be done. How is the best way to go about it? It depends on the individual and what has transpired before. If you are very sore in the pubic bone area (the ligaments), it is time to work on the tunica and anchor points. This means over the shoulder and legs or straight out, 90 degrees from the body. If the tunica (shaft) and area above the testicles is sore, it is time for straight down or BTC.
The above is very generalized. There are subcategories of stresses that can be applied to give the most efficient types of work.”
Make a LOT of sense… Thanks.